Identifying risk factors and implications for beach drowning prevention amongst an Australian multicultural community

Multicultural communities in Australia are recognised as a priority area for drowning prevention, but no evidence-based study has addressed their knowledge of beach safety. This study used an online survey tool to identify and examine risk factors relating to swimming ability, beach visitation characteristics and behaviour, and beach safety knowledge of the Australian Southern Asian community to assist in the development of future beach safety interventions. Data was obtained through 249 online and in-person surveys of people aged > 18 years. Most respondents reported poor swimming ability (80%), often swam in in the absence of lifeguards (77%), did not understand the rip current hazard (58%), but reported that they entered the water (76%) when visiting beaches. Close to one-quarter (28%) had not heard, or didn’t know the purpose, of the red and yellow beach flags, which identify lifeguard supervised areas on Australian beaches. Length of time living in Australia is an important beach safety consideration for this community, with minimal differences in terms of gender and age. Those who have lived < 10 years in Australia visit beaches more frequently and are less likely to have participated in swimming lessons, be able to swim, heard of the flags or swim between them, understand rip currents, or have participated in a beach safety program. Very few (3%) respondents received beach safety information from within their own community. The importance of beach safety education and swimming lessons within the Southern Asian community should be prioritised for new and recent migrants to Australia.

Effectiveness of Safety Interventions in Fire Engines to Reduce Potential Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2

Physical distancing and wearing a face mask are key interventions to prevent COVID-19. While this remains difficult to practice for millions of firefighters in fire engines responding to emergencies, the delayed forthcoming of evidence on the effectiveness of such safety interventions in this setting presents a major problem. In this field experimental study, we provided initial evidence to close this gap. We examined total aerosol burden in the cabin of a fire engine whilst manipulating crew size, use of FFP2 respirators and use of SCBA full-face masks during 15-min driving periods. At the same time, we controlled for crew activity and speaking, vehicle speed, cabin ventilation, cabin air temperature, pressure and humidity. Limiting the crew size, using FFP2 respirators and not donning SCBA full-face masks was associated with a reduction of the arithmetic mean of total aerosol burden of up to 49%. This study provided initial evidence on the effectiveness of safety interventions in fire engines to reduce potential airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through aerosols. More research about the physical and the clinical effectiveness of such safety interventions is needed.

Cultural Safety within the Indigenous Health Context: Findings from a Review of Reviews

First Nations, Inuit, and Métis older adults often face systemic barriers to accessing culturally safe and equitable healthcare, including racism, structural injustice, and a historical legacy of colonialism. However, there is a paucity of knowledge on cultural safety interventions and implementation strategies in care for older adults. This presentation aims to: 1) explore persistent barriers to achieving health equity and advancing cultural safety in healthcare; and 2) identify cultural safety interventions to improve healthcare for Indigenous older adults. Guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review framework, we conducted a review of reviews published between January 2010 to December 2020 on Indigenous cultural safety in healthcare. We searched five databases (CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) and hand-searched reference lists of relevant articles. We conducted a thematic analysis to identify patterns and themes in the literature. Key barriers to achieving health equity and advancing cultural safety in healthcare included care providers lacking knowledge of Indigenous culture, power imbalances, racism, and discrimination. A range of cultural safety interventions were identified, from education and training initiatives for healthcare providers (emergency physicians and occupational therapists) to collaborative partnerships with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. As First Nations, Inuit, and Métis populations age, there is a growing need for safe healthcare services for Indigenous older adults, and these findings suggest focusing on healthcare providers knowledge and attitudes is key. Research is necessary to develop, implement, and evaluate cultural safety interventions aimed at healthcare providers to improve healthcare for Indigenous older adults.

Characteristics and beach safety knowledge of beachgoers on unpatrolled surf beaches in Australia

The majority of drowning deaths on Australian beaches occur significant distances away from lifeguard services. This study uses results of 459 surveys of beachgoers at five beaches unpatrolled by lifeguards in New South Wales, Australia to improve understanding of who visits these beaches and why, and to identify risk factors associated with their beach safety knowledge and behaviour. Many unpatrolled beach users were infrequent beachgoers and weak swimmers, with poor rip current hazard identification skills, who did not observe safety signage that was present, and yet intended to enter the water to swim despite being aware that no lifeguards were present. The survey found that the main reasons beachgoers visited unpatrolled beaches were because they were conveniently close to their holiday accommodation, or they represented a quieter location away from crowds. Future beach safety interventions in Australia need to extend beyond the standard ‘swim between the flags’ message in recognition that people will always frequent unpatrolled beaches. Future beach safety interventions for unpatrolled beaches should be tailored towards the varied types of demographic beach users, such as domestic tourist families, males, and day visitors attracted by social media.

Artificial Phylloplanes Resembling Physicochemical Characteristics of Selected Fresh Produce and Their Use in Bacteria Attachment/Removal Studies

The recurrence of food-borne illness outbreaks caused by consumption of fresh produce highlights the importance of developing a good understanding of the bacteria-leaf-surfaces interactions. In this study, we proposed and developed a new method to fabricate artificial phylloplanes that mimic the topographical and epicuticular characteristics of fresh produce, to be used as a platform for the development of food safety interventions for fresh produce. Romaine lettuce and spinach were selected to create phylloplane replicas using a double-cast procedure. The surface hydrophobicity of the artificial phylloplanes made from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was modified by adding a non-ionic surfactant with different hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) values to match the hydrophobicity of produce leaves. Key epicuticular wax compounds identified from the natural spinach and lettuce leaves were coated on the leaf replica to mimic the chemical composition of natural leaf surfaces. These surrogate surfaces were used to study the attachment Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria innocua. In addition, these surfaces are reusable, and have surface hydrophobicity, surface roughness values and epicuticular wax compositions similar to fresh produce. The artificial phylloplanes of fresh produce can be used as a platform for studying the interactions between human pathogens with produce surfaces and for developing new sanitation strategies.

Lives Saved in Low- and Middle-Income Countries by Road Safety Initiatives Funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies and Implemented by Their Partners between 2007–2018

Over the past 12 years, Bloomberg Philanthropies (BP) and its partner organisations have implemented a global road safety program in low- and middle-income countries. The program was implemented to address the historically increasing number of road fatalities and the inadequate funding to reduce them. This study evaluates the performance of the program by estimating lives saved from road safety interventions implemented during the program period (2007–2018) through to 2030. We estimated that 311,758 lives will have been saved by 2030, with 97,148 lives saved up until 2018 when the evaluation was conducted and a further 214,608 lives projected to be saved if these changes are sustained until 2030. Legislative changes alone accounted for 75% of lives saved. Concurrent activities related to reducing drink driving, implementing legislative changes, and social marketing campaigns run in conjunction with police enforcement and other road safety activities accounted for 57% of the total estimated lives saved. Saving 311,758 lives with funding of USD $259 million indicates a cost-effectiveness ratio of USD $831 per life saved. The potential health gains achieved through the number of lives saved from the road safety initiatives funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies represent a considerable return on investment. This study demonstrates the extent to which successful, cost-effective road safety initiatives can reduce road fatalities in low- and middle-income countries.

Assessing Existing Food Safety Resources with UK-Based Chemotherapy Patients and Family Caregivers for Future Learning Purposes

As incidence of foodborne infection is more prevalent among cancer patients, and the domestic kitchen reported to be a contributor to foodborne infection; there is a need to ensure appropriate domestic food safety practices to safeguard this ‘at-risk’ population. Although patients are aware of the increased risk of infection, previous self-reported data indicate potential food safety malpractices among patients and family caregivers; thus suggesting the need for targeted food safety information. However, existing UK resources provide inconsistent and insufficient food safety information. Involvement of intended end-users in the co-creation of interventions increases potential effectiveness. Qualitative data was collated from in-depth interviews and a focus group with UK chemotherapy patients and family caregivers (n=35) to determine perceptions and preferences for food safety information, by evaluating existing food safety resources from international providers (n=12). Although participants liked digital interventions (e.g. websites/videos), traditional paper-based leaflets were perceived to be the most beneficial as they could be referred to on repeated occasions. Despite identifying drawbacks with some resources, combining approaches in a multi-resource intervention was favored by patients and family caregivers. Ensuring patients are not overwhelmed with excessive information was important. Short, logical, engaging, educational and entertaining information to evoke an interest in the topic was preferred. Utilization of graphics to supplement descriptive information may enhance comprehensibility. Interventions need to be appropriate for patients and caregivers and delivery by trusted healthcare professionals may enhance the credibility of the message. The study identifies preferred approaches to facilitate targeted food safety communication. Findings can be utilized to co-create targeted food safety interventions for chemotherapy patients and family caregivers.